George S. Irving

Obituary

George S. Irving was an actor known for a long and succcessful theater career — which included winning a Tony Award — as well as for television commercials for White Owl cigars and for providing the voice of the Heat Miser in the Christmas special The Year without a Santa Claus.

George S. Irving was an actor known for a long and succcessful theater career — which included winning a Tony Award — as well as for television commercials for White Owl cigars and for providing the voice of the Heat Miser in the Christmas special The Year without a Santa Claus.

Irving got his start on Broadway in the chorus of Oklahoma! After army service during World War II, returned to New York, where he was cast in the revue Call Me Mister. He won Tony in the category of best featured actor in a musical for a revival of Irene. His other Broadway credits included Can-Can, Bells Are Ringing, Irma La Douce and the title role in An Evening With Richard Nixon and...

He began appearing on television in the 1950s, with roles on The Goldbergs and Producers Showcase. In the years that followed he had some on-camera roles in shows that included Car 54, Where Are You?, Naked City, The Patty Duke Show and All in the Family. He also was in demand for voice work, with credits that included King Leonardo and His Short Subjects, Underdog, Go Go Gophers and The Dumplings.

His most memorable voice role was that of Heat Miser, the controller of warm weather in The Year without a Santa Claus. He reprised the role in A Miser Brothers' Christmas.

In addition, he was the star of a commercial campaign for White Owl cigars,in which he delivered the catch phrase, “We’re gonna getcha. You know we’re gonna getcha.” He then exhaled smoke and added, “Oh yeah.”